Dec 28, 2012

Hello!! Long time no chat. Er, blog? I hope you all had a wonderful holiday and nice time off of work. I’ve been off for a while and I feel like all I’ve done is cook, run, spend time with family, and bake. It’s been wonderful.

1. What I’m Reading:The Plant-Powered Diet. This past year I’ve been eating more vegetables than ever and want to continue nourishing myself with them as much as possible. It just makes sense. Or does it just it acceptable to eat cookies for lunch like I did on Monday? Anyway, this book discusses the benefits of vegetables, fruits, and grains and some great recipes.

2. What I’m Eating:Now watch me contradict myself. I mean…balance out all the veggies…with THESE. Thanks to Erica’s recommendation, I picked up a bag of Hershey’s Mint Truffle Kisses. If you’re a fan of mint + chocolate, grab a bag. Because they’re individually wrapped, I find I eat fewer than when I rip open a bag of M&Ms. Agree?

Dec 21, 2012

1. What I’m Reading: I love cookbooks, but usually borrow them from the library instead of buying them. When I do buy them, they tend to be more scientific or educational, rather than a compilation of recipes with photos. I finally got around to purchasing The Science of Good Cooking, one of books by Cooks Illustrated. It is the best and you need it. This is a must have for any home chef who likes to know the hows and whys of cooking.

2. What I’m Eating:As far as faux meat products go, I usually stick to Morningstar chick’n patties or spicy black bean burgers. I had some really bad products by Gardein a couple years ago, but these beefless burgers are a new favorite. I would have been easily fooled if someone told me they were beef.

Dec 19, 2012

1. Nourish yourself. Your body is a temple, and what you put in it affects what you put out. No, I’m not talking about your poo. When you eat well, you feel well. Your energy and overall mood are greatly affected by what you take in. Grab an apple and smile!

2. Look around you and appreciate everything. Whether it’s being thankful for your family, your home, or the sun shining above you, take a moment to bask in all the beauty around you.

3. Treat yourself. If you make a conscious effort to treat your body well, you shouldn’t have any issues with rewarding yourself. Moderation is key. Overindulging leads to guilt, so keep your treats to a minimum. How much more will you appreciate a big ol’ cookie with a glass of milk versus that sleeve of Oreos?

4. Smile at a stranger. You have no idea how this little gesture can affect someone’s day for the better. Using just 17 muscles, you’ll not only feel a bit better, but you’ll make someone else grin. Guaranteed.

5. Compliment someone. Like #4, this doesn’t take much effort, and is such an effective way to positively shape someone’s attitude. In turn, complimenting them will also remind you how lucky you're to have them in your life.

6. Do something active. Get off your couch and go! Spend some time outside, go for a run, play catch with your child, or take a walk with your pet. There are 24 hours in the day and there’s no reason why you can’t spend a minimum of 30 minutes being active.

8. Say no to something. One of the most important lessons I’ve learned as a young adult is that it’s okay to say no sometimes. We in our 20s have a habit of taking on too much and trying to outdo one another. Life doesn’t always have to be a race to the finish line. It’s okay to not want to do something because you have too much going on. Carefully choose what’s most important to you, and put forth maximum effort on those few things.

9. Tell a family member or friend that you love them. If you have someone in your life that you love, they should know it. Those three words can be so powerful when you mean it.

10. At the end of the day, spend some time by yourself. Review what went on throughout your waking hours. Be thankful for all the positives, let go of all the negatives. Remember that tomorrow is a new day and you can start all over again.

Dec 18, 2012

1. Last night I went out with Danielle to deliver samples of the new Red Bull Editions that we tried a couple weeks ago. While out, the bartender made us a little shot with the Bakon Vodka, Zing Zang, and pineapple juice. It was supposed to taste like a pineapple pizza which sounds totally weird, but it was so good. He said the Bakon Vodka is really good in a Bloody Mary.

2. Old Navy’s Compression Capris. I know you guys love your Lululemon gear because it stores fat in unknown places, but I promise these do the same. It looks like I worked out for a month straight when I wear them.

3. This.

4. Boding finally went to Mi Xao with Eric and me. It was weird not going with Danielle! My new favorite menu item is the Chicken Salad: steamed chicken breast, cabbage, carrots, shallots, fresh herbs, and peanuts with a lime dressing. I want to drink the dressing and I’m not joking.

5. Eric said lunch was BYOC: bring your own chopsticks. It was the perfect opportunity for me to give Boding one of his Christmas presents early.

6. I partnered with my new best friend Carly for The Ornament Swap. She decided to go above and beyond with the gift giving. I’ll show you it all soon, but check out the best item in the box: an inflatable dreidel.

I can’t decide which I like more: the dreidel or the boy holding it….hahah I am going to be in so much trouble for sharing this.

I have been keeping a secret from you! Forgive me, for I have been holding out on telling you about your new favorite lunch and late night spot downtown. You all know that Roti Rolls food truck has a piece of my heart. Okay, maybe a chunk. Cory and his crew have been serving up fresh, local, and spicy goodies on the side of the roads of Charleston. Very recently, they opened up a brick & mortar spot on East Bay Street, next to Big John’s.

While that corner of the street is low lit and sometimes a little creepy, The Green Door is not. You may be temporarily blinded by the incredibly green walls, but rest assure, your sight will revert back to normal as soon as your nose smells the goodness coming from Cory’s kitchen.

Before the restaurant’s actual opening, I was invited to the friends & family dinner to sample some of the menu items. I dragged convinced this cutie to come with me.

The Green Door is essentially an expansion of the Roti Rolls food truck. Here’s a sneak peek of what they’ll be serving.

At the event, we sampled some of the menu items, including fried chickpeas (whoops, 1 strike)…

Dec 17, 2012

Though I don’t typically eat at chain or fast food restaurants, I will make an exception if I’m super busy. During the holidays, things get a little crazy and cooking isn’t always the best option. When Food Buzz informed us that Panera Bread now offers a variety of soups in their café, I was intrigued.
In college, I was mildly obsessed with their bagels and breads. They’ve got some incredible sweets coming out of that bakery as well. Cookies? Yeah, tons of those. For meal options, they’ve got sandwiches, soups, and salads. The “You Pick 2” combination allows you to pick 1/2-size portions so you can try a couple things.
For a quick lunch the other day, I checked out Panera’s menu and found a bunch of great items. There were so many different sandwiches I would have liked, but I wanted a light meal and opted for soup and salad.
I ordered the Asian Sesame Chicken Salad (al-natural, antibiotic-free chicken, romaine lettuce, fresh cilantro, sliced almonds, sesame seeds, crispy wonton strips & reduced-sugar Asian sesame vinaigrette) and Low Fat Vegetarian Black Bean Soup (plump black beans simmered in a spicy vegetarian broth with onion, red bell pepper, garlic and cumin).
I was impressed.
Some of their other soups include:

French Onion

Broccoli Cheddar

Baked Potato

Clam Chowder

Chicken Noodle

Vegetarian Creamy Tomato

Vegetarian Garden Vegetable with Pesto

Yay for all the vegetarian options!Do you ever go to Panera Bread? What’s your favorite combination?

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About

Spunky individual with a penchant for culinary delights. Lover of all things pickle-related and photographing what goes in my tummy. Likes? Chick-fil-A, Greek yogurt, beets, fiber, baking, and men who are attractive. Dislikes? Waiting for things to finish baking, bad grammar, slow talkers/walkers, being a mess, and people that take up my personal space. Whether I'm spinning at the gym, whipping up tasty treats, or reviewing a Charleston restaurant with fabulous friends, I'm loving every minute of this life.